Utilities trumpets low rates

A recent annual analysis of Watertown Municipal Utilities charges shows that its users have the most-affordable rates for electricity, gas and water among comparable communities in the state.

Utilities General Manager Steve Lehner told the Utilities Board Monday that January billings now going out include a “stuffer” that highlights the results of those comparisons for customers to see for themselves.

“We take those utilities in our rate group and go through and look at those communities and what their charges are,” Lehner said following Monday’s meeting. There are a total of 10 communities in the rate group with Watertown, including Aberdeen, Brookings, Pierre and Sioux Falls.

Lehner said not every community in the group provides all three services, with some contracting with the private sector for one or another

“Pierre is one for instance,” Lehner said. “So we look at their provider for those services and see what their costs would be and compare.

“That shows us as the lowest (overall) average user cost for all services.”

Being able to take advantage of those rates saves Utilities’ customer about $20 per month for electric, gas and water service.

“The average (of the rest) is about $185 per month,” Lehner said. “For Watertown Utilities customers the average is $165 per month.”

Lehner said while the monthly bills also include sewer and garbage charges, that is done through a billing agreement with the city, and those charges are not included in the comparisons.

Also during Monday’s monthly meeting, Lehner said the board reviewed a number of Utilities’ policies and some changes proposed by him and his staff.

Although Lehner said the policy manual contains over 100 pages and some changes were very minor, one area addressed was what Utilities charges for repairs or other work done for private parties.

“Basically what we bill out for a situation where (for instance) someone hits a light pole and we have to go and repair it,” Lehner said. “That was updated for equipment and personnel to reflect our costs of doing those services.

“Those rates hadn’t been updated since about 1990.”

Lehner said the new rates are varied depending on the equipment and manpower required for the job.

He said the policy reviews are done on an annual basis with some changes made each year.

In other business Monday, the board:

• Awarded contracts for a variety of supplies and services, including a 3-year agreement for janitorial work. Lehner said the low bid was received from Service Master of Watertown and came in about 6 percent lower than the previous cost.

• Approved having the general manager sign certain contracts without prior board review, another action that is done annually. Lehner said the authorization covers contracts that are below the amount required to call for bids and include things such as maintenance, lime sludge removal from the water plant and other basic operating costs that arise.

Utility Rates

Watertown: $165

Pierre: $173

Brookings: $175

Mitchell: $184

Vermillion: $185

Yankton: $190

Aberdeen: $190

Huron: $191

Sioux Falls: $193

Madison: $201

Monthly averages based on 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, 7,200 cubic feet of gas and 6,000 gallons of water as purchased by an average residential consumer from each community.

Watch this discussion.Stop watching this discussion.

(0) comments

Welcome to the discussion.

Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language.PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated.Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything.Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person.Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts.Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.